JUDGMENT

P. Sathasivam, J.—

1.This appeal is directed against the final judgment and order dated 01.08.2000 passed by the Division Bench of the Gauhati High Court in Writ Appeal No. 195 of 1996 whereby the High Court allowed the writ appeal, inter alia, directing the appellant to pay equal and similar wages and other benefits to the contract labourers who work in the finishing job under Rule 25 (2) (v) of the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Assam Rules, 1971 (hereinafter called the ‘Rules’).

2.Brief facts in a nut shell are as follows :

“The contesting 1st respondent herein is a registered Trade Union having its registered office at Panchgram District Hailakandi, Assam on behalf of 34 contract labourers hired by a contractor for the appellant-Hindustan Paper Corporation Ltd. (Cachar Paper Mill) (in short the ‘Mill’) filed a representation before the Labour Officer/Inspector of Assam, Hailakandi through its president for implementation of Rule 25 (2) (v) (a) of the Rules vide their letter dated 13.01.1992. The Labour Officer and Inspector on the basis of the said representation called for an explanation/reply from the said Mill. Since there was no response, the L